gideon bible

[wizard69]

Just been to visit Mrs. wizard in hospital. Upon opening her locker I found a copy of the Gideon bible lying there.
Now, what gives the Gideon society the right to leave this horrible book in places like hospitals and hotel rooms?
what makes them think that people would want to read this trash while they are ill (or on holiday, if its in a hotel room). Wouldnt you be offended by this if you were a muslim or a hindu? I am offended by this as an atheist.
How would christians in hospital react if they found a copy of Anton LaVay's Satanic bible in their locker. So why do they think its ok to force their cr@p on us?
Ok, I dont have to read it but a christian wouldnt have to read the Satanic bible either but there would be hell to pay ( pun intended) if copies of this were left lying around.

[naomi24]

Hi Wiz, I can't answer your question, but I wish Mrs Wiz the best, and hope all is well. X

[wizard69]

Thank you naomi,
I'm sure one touch of my magic wand will make her better!

[wizard69]

BTW...She's actually in hospital for a steralisation (no more wizlets for us) but there's been a few complications.

[annalou]

I was given one of those when I left school, it wasn't a religious school either, but obviously there were many different faiths that attended.

[naomi24]

Sorry to hear about the complications Wiz - hope all will be well - and I'm sure it will be if you keep the wand out of it for a while!! Let us know how she is, won't you. x

[reachesme]

It's because they are like drug dealers, they try and get in there when your at your lowest, ie hospitals and hotels,when the only time your going to be reading the bible in a hotel is when your on your own. Next thing you know your giving 10% of your wages to the church and running around trying to get more money for the church like Fagans pick pokets. Then you leave all your money to them when you die cus they tell you that you will sit on a cloud for the rest of eternity playing the harp.
Hope the wife gets better and don't become a bible basher.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Yeah, we got the Gideon bibles at school. There were two things I remember with this. One guy delighted in tearing out one page a day for his entire time at secondary school. There was also a bunch who declared themseleves 'The Gideon Knights' and went around whacking people on the head with the spine saying, 'Blessed be!'.

I don't recall anyone actually reading 'em though. ;-)

[Ethel]

Can't atheists have vasectomies, then?

[ruby27]

Isn't Britain still nominally a Christian country, isn't the Head of State here also the Supreme Governor for the Church of England? Given this is would still seem reasonable that the bible is used to promote Christianity. The Satanic bible I assume (never come across it), is not going to be supporting Christianity. Why would someone of another religious faith be offended by the availability of the bible in a country which isn't totally secular, and which still has some claim to be Christian? Surely you wouldn't be surprised to find religious tracts support religion in other countries that had a primary faith.

I must admit it is not my choice of fiction when I want a read when I am unwell or travelling, but like you said it�s not compulsory to read it.

We are not secular fundamentalists in this country are we; people are allowed their religious viewpoints. I am becoming curious about this notion of secular fundamentalism.

[Octavius]

What gives you the right to assume the locker belongs to your wife?

If I were in hospital and there was a copy of the Satanic Bible in the locker, I think I might be inclined to have a nosey of it, just out of curiosity. Ditto, if there was a copy of the Qur�an or the Torah or an old yellowed copy of a Harry Potter book. But there would be hell to pay if I ever found a copy of Heat magazine, OK, Hello or Mariah Carey�s auto biography. Those are just unforgiveable and should be banned from all doctors and dentists surgeries and health centres. Oh and that Country Homes one its far too elitist.

[wizard69]

Ethel, no, this atheist cant, for reasons which I have no intention of going into on answerbank, so keep your nose out of our contraception arrangements.

LOL @ Octavious.

ruby, at the moment the head of state (the queen) is indeed the head of the church of England and the defender of the faith but when Charlie boy becomes king he wants to be known as the defender of the faiths (plural). England is no longer a christian country, it is a multi faith one.
I certainly wouldnt want to live in a secular country where people arnt allowed to express their religious view points

[Romeo]

Now don't get angry with me for saying this, Wiz (because I'm a wiz too as a matter of fact), but they mean well. Best just leave it at that. And don't worry about it, OK? Keep chillin'.

[Theland]

Wizard - My best wishes to Mrs Wiz for a speedy recovery.
We are still a Christian country, albeit in name only for the most part.
The values of love espoused in the Gideon N.T. and the comfort it can give to those who are ill are some of the reasons the Gideons undertook this kind of mission.
For an example of a "horrible book," look no further than the koran.

[WaldoMcFroog]

It's certainly useful when they run out of proper toilet paper.

[Theland]

No, I wouldn't dignify the koran by putiing it to such a noble use!

[jollygreen]

I travel quite a lot in my work and every time I find a bible in the hotel room I draw a darwin fish on the inside of the front cover. :-)

[wizard69]

sounds about the best thing to do jolly.

[joko]

it's to remind people to 'hedge their bets' at the last minute, ''just in case''.

i am surprised all the other religions haven't got onto it.

[taperface]

I hope Mrs. Wizard is soon on her feet again, and sorry you had to come across the book you described, but all reading material is of interest - if only to laugh about it later!